Missouri Football Players to Strike

[Rhode Irish]

Hunger strikes are mainly used to put pressure on the target of the protest by means of guilt. I don't agree with guilting anyone into anything and would rather a battle of ideas win out.

Right, but I guess my point is if your opponent either is convinced they didn't do anything wrong or actually doesn't like you then you're only hurting yourself. I feel like if someone wanted to stupidly do damage to themselves to make a point to me (which I presumably disagree with), my attitude toward them would be "do you." Not sure I would feel guilty about someone starving themselves - I'm not starving them.

 

[Black Irish]

I think the guy on the hunger strike is an idiot, just because I still do not understand the logic of a hunger strike. But as far as the football players, I applaud them for following their conscience - I am not on the ground there so they have a much better sense of whether their action is called for or not than I do from reading this one article about it. And if I was their teammate and they were sincere about it, I'd stand with them. It sounds like the athletic department is supporting them, which is good. It isn't surprising that many here feel differently - that is one of the most demographically predictable things imaginable.

Or it could be that many people on this board, myself included, have read the news reports posted about the incident, considered the facts presented, and come to the conclusion that these students are behaving in an insolent, irrational manner.

 

[MNIrishman]

Or it could be that many people on this board, myself included, have read the news reports posted about the incident, considered the facts presented, and come to the conclusion that these students are behaving in an insolent, irrational manner.

Truth. Imagine if someone said the same thing about the protesters, "...behaving in the most demographically-predictable way imaginable." Can we just debate ideas without dismissing them because of the race of who presented them?

 

[ACamp1900]

Truth. Imagine if someone said the same thing about the protesters, "...behaving in the most demographically-predictable way imaginable." Can we just debate ideas without dismissing them because of the race of who presented them?

In 2015??? Surely not...

 

[GoldenDomer]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The Mizzou Family stands as one. We are united. We are behind our players. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ConcernedStudent1950?src=hash">#ConcernedStudent1950</a> GP <a href="https://t.co/fMHbPPTTKl">pic.twitter.com/fMHbPPTTKl</a></p>— Coach Gary Pinkel (@GaryPinkel) <a href="https://twitter.com/GaryPinkel/status/663410502370856960">November 8, 2015</a></blockquote>
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Good way to get the attention off your 4-5 record lol

 

[kmoose]

Or it could be that many people on this board, myself included, have read the news reports posted about the incident, considered the facts presented, and come to the conclusion that these students are behaving in an insolent, irrational manner.

I don't have any problem with either side of the debate, but I think there is obviously A LOT of information that has yet to be reported.

What exactly do these kids want the President to do, that he hasn't done already?

 

[magogian]

I don't have any problem with either side of the debate, but I think there is obviously A LOT of information that has yet to be reported.

What exactly do these kids want the President to do, that he hasn't done already?

Provided below

 

[magogian]

Here is the full list of demands:

I. We demand that the University of Missouri System President, Tim Wolfe, writes a handwritten apology to the Concerned Student 1-Michigan9-Michigan5-0 demonstrators and holds a press conference in the Mizzou Student Center reading the letter. In the letter and at the press conference, Tim Wolfe must acknowledge his white male privilege, recognize that systems of oppression exist, and provide a verbal commitment to fulfilling Concerned Student 1-9-5-Michigan0 demands. We want Tim Wolfe to admit to his gross negligence, allowing his driver to hit one of the demonstrators, consenting to the physical violence of bystanders, and lastly refusing to intervene when Columbia Police Department used excessive force with demonstrators.

II. We demand the immediate removal of Tim Wolfe as UM system president. After his removal a new amendment to UM system policies must be established to have all future UM system president and Chancellor positions be selected by a collective of students, staff, and faculty of diverse backgrounds.

III. We demand that the University of Missouri meets the Legion of Black Collegians' demands that were presented in 1969 for the betterment of the black community.

IV. We demand that the University of Missouri creates and enforces comprehensive racial awareness and inclusion curriculum throughout all campus departments and units, mandatory for all students, faculty, staff, and administration. This curriculum must be vetted, maintained, and overseen by a board comprised of students, staff, and faculty of color.

V. We demand that by the academic year 2017-2018, the University of Missouri increases the percentage of black faculty and staff campus-wide to 10%.

VI. We demand that the University of Missouri composes a strategic 10 year plan by May 1, 2016 that will increase retention rates for marginalized students, sustain diversity curriculum and training, and promote a more safe and inclusive campus.

VII. We demand that the University of Missouri increases funding and resources for the University of Missouri Counseling Center for the purpose of hiring additional mental health professionals — particularly those of color, boosting mental health outreach and programming across campus, increasing campus-Michiganwide awareness and visibility of the counseling center, and reducing lengthy wait times for prospective clients.

VIII. We demand that the University of Missouri increases funding, resources, and personnel for the social justices centers on campus for the purpose of hiring additional professionals, particularly those of color, boosting outreach and programming across campus, and increasing campus-Michiganwide awareness and visibility.

I find the demand for racial quotas interesting. Should all companies, schools, and other workplaces have a strict racial quotes that roughly correspond to each ethnic group's proportion in society?

Fastest way to making all Asians Republicans . . .




These racial kerfuffles (google the crazy one about Yale and Halloween costumes) have a lot of similarity to the BLM movement. There are significant challenges facing the black community. Many black communities are devastated by poverty, single-parent homes, and incredible amounts of black on black violence.

Yet, what do these movements focus on? What are, at best, relatively marginal problems. Concerned about black lives? Do black lives matter to you? Well, congrats, you only really care about the 2% of black lives that are killed each year by cops (most of which are justifiable). The other 98%? Ehh.

What about the hundreds of additional lives that are being lost because of worsening police enforcement in the aftermath of the BLM movement? Ehh. Still the fault of "those who think of themselves as white," as Ta-Nehisi Coates likes to say.

So, we turn to universities. A few stupid racist white people hurled racial epithets at some black folks. Let's focus on that!!! I'm sure creating more elaborate safe spaces for already mostly privileged black students will do wonders to alleviate the social ills devastating black communities around the country. That's the ticket.

 

[kmoose]

Here is the full list of demands:

I. We demand that the University of Missouri System President, Tim Wolfe, writes a handwritten apology to the Concerned Student 1-Michigan9-Michigan5-0 demonstrators and holds a press conference in the Mizzou Student Center reading the letter. In the letter and at the press conference, Tim Wolfe must acknowledge his white male privilege, recognize that systems of oppression exist, and provide a verbal commitment to fulfilling Concerned Student 1-9-5-Michigan0 demands. We want Tim Wolfe to admit to his gross negligence, allowing his driver to hit one of the demonstrators, consenting to the physical violence of bystanders, and lastly refusing to intervene when Columbia Police Department used excessive force with demonstrators.

II. We demand the immediate removal of Tim Wolfe as UM system president. After his removal a new amendment to UM system policies must be established to have all future UM system president and Chancellor positions be selected by a collective of students, staff, and faculty of diverse backgrounds.

III. We demand that the University of Missouri meets the Legion of Black Collegians' demands that were presented in 1969 for the betterment of the black community.

IV. We demand that the University of Missouri creates and enforces comprehensive racial awareness and inclusion curriculum throughout all campus departments and units, mandatory for all students, faculty, staff, and administration. This curriculum must be vetted, maintained, and overseen by a board comprised of students, staff, and faculty of color.

V. We demand that by the academic year 2017-2018, the University of Missouri increases the percentage of black faculty and staff campus-wide to 10%.

VI. We demand that the University of Missouri composes a strategic 10 year plan by May 1, 2016 that will increase retention rates for marginalized students, sustain diversity curriculum and training, and promote a more safe and inclusive campus.

VII. We demand that the University of Missouri increases funding and resources for the University of Missouri Counseling Center for the purpose of hiring additional mental health professionals — particularly those of color, boosting mental health outreach and programming across campus, increasing campus-Michiganwide awareness and visibility of the counseling center, and reducing lengthy wait times for prospective clients.

VIII. We demand that the University of Missouri increases funding, resources, and personnel for the social justices centers on campus for the purpose of hiring additional professionals, particularly those of color, boosting outreach and programming across campus, and increasing campus-Michiganwide awareness and visibility.

How many of those demands has the University met, planned to meet? That's what I would like to know. If the guy refuses to "acknowledge his white male privilege" and incorporate a curriculum of Black Dominance, completely controlled and implemented by a committee of black individuals, or to institute every demand made in the 1960s, then fvck these players. I can appreciate standing on principle, but the nature of the principle DOES matter. The Nazis stood on principles, but those principles sure as hell didn't deserve any respect at all.

If he declines to give people of color a say in campus life, or to monitor diversity in the faculty and staff, or to provide adequate mental health resources, then that's something I can support the players about.

 

[wizards8507]

I hope the white, Asian, and Hispanic students on campus file a petition and list of demands that includes the abolishment of the Legion of Black Collegians and other such groups. They are hate organizations that promote segregation and unfair treatment of other individuals on the basis of race.

 

[NDgradstudent]

Here is the full list of demands:

If I were a student at Mizzou and the university administration gave into these I'd bolt. Who wants to pay thousands of dollars to be lectured about how racist he is? If Pinkel really supports them he is a fool.

At least they are honest about quotas. Affirmative action in any context, and through any method, always leads to quotas. There is no other way to judge the "right" number of a certain group apart from quotas, and because supporters of affirmative action assume that every group is equally good at everything, any deviation from the population figure is proof of racism.

 

[magogian]

How many of those demands has the University met, planned to meet? .

The university president offered to wear sack clothes and ashes while reading his apology on this knees. Apparently that wasn't enough.

 

[wizards8507]

If he declines to give people of color a say in campus life, or to monitor diversity in the faculty and staff, or to provide adequate mental health resources, then that's something I can support the players about.

Why should racial diversity be monitored? If you have ten open jobs and the ten most qualified candidates are all Korean guys, you sure as hell better higher ten Korean guys, diversity be damned. To do otherwise in the name of diversity would be to mistreat people on the basis of race, exactly the thing that these idiots purport to despise.

 

[magogian]

Why should racial diversity be monitored? If you have ten open jobs and the ten most qualified candidates are all Korean guys, you sure as hell better higher ten Korean guys, diversity be damned. To do otherwise in the name of diversity would be to mistreat people on the basis of race, exactly the thing that these idiots purport to despise.

Must have strict adherence to the racial proportions of all working age members of the society.

Sorry Asians.

 

[NDgradstudent]

The players won't return to practice until Mizzou's President apologizes:
<iframe width="420" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/WJhPLGMhRuQ" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[IrishinSyria]

Wow... less than 10% of Mizzou's staff and faculty is black?

 

[calvegas04]

well after reading those demands, I could care less if mizzou ever has a football team again. So stupid

 

[MNIrishman]

Wow... less than 10% of Mizzou's staff and faculty is black?

Only 10% of the state is black. Not sure there's a problem here.

 

[wizards8507]

Wow... less than 10% of Mizzou's staff and faculty is black?

That's not "wow," that's "makes total sense."

http://www.faculty.harvard.edu/sites/default/files/downloads/3.2.3 SED Fact Sheet.pdf

African Americans earned a total of 1,821 doctorates from U.S. institutions in the period of July 1, 2006 to June 30, 2007. This represented 7 percent of all research doctoral degrees awarded to U.S. citizens in that year. Non-Hispanic whites earned 79 percent of those doctorates, while Asians earned 6 percent, and Hispanics earned 5 percent

Any more than 7% and they'd actually be disproportionately black.

Only 10% of the state is black. Not sure there's a problem here.

And far less than 10% of Ph.Ds.

 

[magogian]

supporters of affirmative action assume that every group is equally good at everything, any deviation from the population figure is proof of racism.

I agree. We should be thankful that the BLM movement has inadvertently revealed the true racial menace in American society today. The widespread, structural privilege and racism in favor of Asians.

Countless studies that show that certain communities of color (a) high rates of punishment and suspension in grade and secondary schools, (b) low test scores and grades, (c) low graduate rates, (d) massive overrepresentation in crime rates, and (e) underrepresentation in many careers.

Yet, one particular race really stands out. Asians have (a) lower rates of punishment and suspension in grade and secondary schools compared to any racial group, (b) better test scores, (c) better graduation rates, (d) massive underrepresentation in crime rates, and (e) massive overrepresentation in many of the best careers.

That's the issue we really all should be talking about. All those racist Asians and those racist enablers of Asians.

 

[IrishinSyria]

Why should racial diversity be monitored? If you have ten open jobs and the ten most qualified candidates are all Korean guys, you sure as hell better higher ten Korean guys, diversity be damned. To do otherwise in the name of diversity would be to mistreat people on the basis of race, exactly the thing that these idiots purport to despise.

This is dumb. First of all "most qualified" is frequently an abstract concept, not easily quantified. It often comes down to things like "fit" and "potential" that are subject to subconscious racial bias. This is especially true in academic settings, where comittees are evaluating things like research agenda when making hiring decisions. Furthermore, there are frequently benefits to diversity that go far beyond individual merrit, especially in academia. Here, it's clear that a sizable percentage of black students do not feel comfortable at Mizzou. That's a problem, and given the small percentage of black faculty/staff, it's a predictable problem. Higher education is about building well-rounded students, and part of that is exposing them to a diverse environment. Mizzou has clearly failed to accomplish that.

Whatever you may feel about the other stated complaints, you can't argue away the fact that black students feel extremely uncomfortable on campus.

 

[NDgradstudent]

Wow... less than 10% of Mizzou's staff and faculty is black?

Wow...less than 2% of NFL players are Asian?

Mizzou's employee demographics are as they are with affirmative action already in operation. But again, the quota has not been filled, so the demands continue.

I love when universities describe themselves as "equal opportunity and affirmative action employers." You can't be both.

 

[Legacy]

These issues, racially-motivated incidents, and ineffective responses by the MU administration have been going on for months. The Faculty and some other groups have come out in support of the black student population and now the football coaches are in total support of the players. MU like many universities has a combination of urban and rural students whose backgrounds and experiences tend to stratify. Black students make up seven percent of the student population in a state that includes large AA populations in KC and St. Louis. Black football players comprise 68% of the football scholarship players. MU's "neutral site" game in KC is this weekend. I doubt the game will be played, especially if Butler's health declines. I would not be surprised to see football players at other schools show support. The situation needs effective leadership that can act now.
During a tense time on Missouri's campus, empathy is the most important trait - Rock M Nation

 

[magogian]

Also, if those Missouri players were serious about creating a "safe space" they should look inward.

"Missouri had 63 criminal cases involving 46 athletes during the five-year time period. Twelve athletes were involved in more than one incident, Outside the Lines found, and Missouri had the second-highest number of allegations of sexual assault, violence against women, and harassment. Florida State had the most."

Those actions by the Missouri football players are far worse than a few racial epithets. But, again, it is all about the politics of distraction.

 

[IrishinSyria]

https://diversity.missouri.edu/about/stats/

About 3% of full time faculty are black. 7% of staff are.

To be fair, it's probably borderline impossible to attract qualified black faculty to Mizzou.

 

[johnnycando]

I mean...

It's not likely they're playing football on Saturdays as is.

Might as well have an excuse.

 

[johnnycando]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The Mizzou Family stands as one. We are united. We are behind our players. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ConcernedStudent1950?src=hash">#ConcernedStudent1950</a> GP <a href="https://t.co/fMHbPPTTKl">pic.twitter.com/fMHbPPTTKl</a></p>— Coach Gary Pinkel (@GaryPinkel) <a href="https://twitter.com/GaryPinkel/status/663410502370856960">November 8, 2015</a></blockquote>
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Good way to get the attention off your 4-5 record lol

Exactly.

 

[MNIrishman]

Also, if those Missouri players were serious about creating a "safe space" they should look inward.

"Missouri had 63 criminal cases involving 46 athletes during the five-year time period. Twelve athletes were involved in more than one incident, Outside the Lines found, and Missouri had the second-highest number of allegations of sexual assault, violence against women, and harassment. Florida State had the most."

Those actions by the Missouri football players are far worse than a few racial epithets. But, again, it is all about the politics of distraction.

"We want a safe space!"

*Forms angry mob to stop cars on the street unannounced*

And far less than 10% of Ph.Ds.

I was being generous since the figure was for faculty and staff, not just faculty.

In the real world, who would want to hire these people? Companies don't have time to coddle the feelings of people with the emotional fortitude of toddlers.

 

[calvegas04]

Pretty racist tweet if you ask me

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">White people think everything and everyone is here for their satisfaction & entertainment. Mizzou players not here for it and I love it.</p>— Bri (@shes_the_maNN1) <a href="https://twitter.com/shes_the_maNN1/status/663430327986225152">November 8, 2015</a></blockquote>
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[yankeehater]

If I am reading this correctly, the head of the Missouri Student Association is African-American. Is this post voted on? If this is the case, how much racism exists on campus then for him to win a majority vote.